Committee of management and staff

Committee members 2010-2011

Joe Butler ( President)

Joe has been in the Upper Yarra for over 30 years. She has taught at Upper Yarra Secondary College and as an administrator at Little Yarra Steiner School. She has been involved in the concept of the Environment Park since 2003 and feels that the Park will provide an invaluable community hub for people wanting to make a difference.

Sally Brennan (Vice President)

Sally is the CEO of the Upper Yarra Community House and is of great assistance with community engagement and identifying funding opportunities. Sally has been involved with many training and social enterprise initiatives at the ECOSS Site for over a decade. Her vision is for ECOSS to be a training & education facility for rural & land management skills & career pathways, enabling our community & creating local employment.

Carin Eisen (Secretary)

Bernie Lobert (Treasurer)

Bernie has been involved with ECOSS for over 4 years and for many years with other community groups throughout the Dandenongs & Yarra Valley.
He is passionate about music and film and is interested in future thinking. He enjoys gardening, and having recently moved to Belgrave South, is setting up a new vegie garden in the backyard.

Michael Zaar

Michael has extensive experience in territory education and is actively involved in many local community projects. In 2009 he chaired the Upper Yarra Community Building Initiative. Michael is actively involved in community building programs in East Timor and hopes to makes connections between ECOSS and this program.

Ian Cuming

Ian is a local bio-dynamic Kiwi fruit farmer and teacher of permaculture. He brings great knowledge to the group about land management. Ian has been involved for over 10 years with rural communities in the UK and has a rich experience in community building.

Michael Hibbert

Michael has been living a sustainable lifestyle on a 100 acre property in Gladysdale for 15 years. He was involved with the Banksia Foundation for over 10 years, and is passionate about the work of Buckminster Fuller and worm farming.

Donna Swan

Donna has worked in film for many years as a producer, film maker & lecturer. She is also experienced in event management and is involved in bring a range of films about sustainable living solutions to the Yarra Valley.

Staff members

Keith Jesse (Strategic Planning Project Worker)

Keith has worked with Ceres for many years and brings a wealth of knowledge and experience with him to this position. He is currently building his own home using straw bales.

Grant Eastwood (Operations Coordinator & Community Enterprise Coordinator)

Grant lives in the Upper Yarra and previously was involved in the organic & wholefoods industry for 19 years. His passions include sustainability, social justice & food security. He is looking forward to the development of a community farm & sustainability “hub” at the site.

Kevin Nemanic (Community Nursery & Market Garden Manager)

Kevin lives on a self sufficient property in the Don Valley and brings his broad knowledge and skills in horticulture and land management to ECOSS. He is very excited about supplying produce to the local cafes & retailers in the Upper Yarra, and establishing a market stall at local farmers markets.